Writer/Director: Zoya Akhtar
Starring: Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and Katrina Kaif
‘A Captivating Classic’
Few actors in Bollywood are as celebrated as Hrithik Roshan. Ever since his rise to stardom during the 1990’s, Roshan has become one of the greatest actors in the Indian film industry. Whether it’s friends on road trips, soldiers or star-crossed lovers, Roshan has played many strong characters. Arguably, Roshan’s finest strength as an actor has been his bravery. By his abilities to portray characters which are compelling, Roshan has created a legacy that is lasting. He has often been one of those rare actors with the abilities to create compelling characters through charisma. Shining a bright light in darkness, Roshan has become one of the greatest actors in the Indian film business. A respected icon in India, Roshan has become one of the finest actors in Bollywood Cinema. Throughout a lasting career, Roshan has made great films which are without a doubt worth seeing.
I’m a huge fan of Roshan and adore all films which he has made in his career. However, “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” certainly stands out as his most meaningful movie. Released in 2011, Farhan Akhtar’s film offered a bold portrait of friendships in India. Packed with breathtaking musical sequences, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s an extraordinary Bollywood coming of age film. At a centre of it all is a strong performance by Hrithik Roshan, who portrays a bachelor seeking friendship reunion. Ultimately, what makes “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” a classic is universal appeal. Unlike most Bollywood coming-of-age movies, it tackles powerful themes everyone would relate to. A brilliant Bollywood coming-of-age drama, there are many bold reasons why “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” is worth watching.
Set in Spain, “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” tells a story of three friends embarking on journeys to discover identity. Farhan Akhtar plays Imran, a poet with a love for adventures. Imran shares a powerful bond with two friends Kabir (Abhay Deol) and Arjun (Hrithik Roshan) who share similar love for adventure. Imran is excited when he’s given the chance to embark on a road trip to Spain with his two friends that he has come to treasure. However, Imran’s life forever changes when he discovers reuniting with friends won’t be as easy as he had once thought. Facing a dilemma, Imran questions if he would ever be able to find happiness in his life in India. As his bonds with friends threaten to fall apart, Imran questions whether he would ever be able to maintain relationships with his companions holding a place in his heart.
Zoya Akhtar is fascinated with the coming of age genre. An incredible Indian female filmmaker, Akhtar has made great movies about friends on an adventure. Her iconic film “Luck by Chance” offered a powerful portrait of actors seeking to find success in the industry by chance. With “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”, however, Akhtar crafted her first friendship drama. It was the director’s first attempt to capture the lives of friends embarking on an adventure but she pulled it off effectively. Using bold cinematography, Akhtar captures a pair of friends seeking to find their identity. Evoking Farhan Akhtar’s “Dil Chahta Hai”, Akhtar effectively employs montages to capture the bonds between a pair of friends upon a journey. For instance, montages elevate the friendship adventure scene. During this heartfelt scene, Arjun is overcome with joy as he embarks on road trips with his friends. Using bold montages, Akhtar creates a portrait of friendship that is engaging. Montages are tricky techniques to use in movies. As Karan Johar’s “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” suggested, montages elevate Bollywood films about dysfunctional families. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Using captivating visuals, Akhtar captures tensions that friends on road trips are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” that merits appreciation is production. From a technical perspective, the film is well made. Akhtar effectively creates unforgettable musical sequences to capture bonds between friends on road trips. In Bollywood, most films are driven by meaningless musical sequences without any meaning. That being said, “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” is definitely an exception. Akhtar uses marvellous musical sequences to capture the big bond between friends. For instance, dance choreography elevates the Ik Junoon musical sequence. During this unforgettable sequence, Imran bonds with his friends on a memorable Holi ceremony occasion. Moreover, the musical score is fantastic. Shankar Ehsaan Loy’s music is integral to the film’s success. It gives the film a strong atmosphere capturing burden which friends on road trips bear. Through strong production, Akhtar captures friends on vacation.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” is a Bollywood film that’s engaging. Akhtar’s screenwriting strength is capturing strong bonds between friends embarking on their vacation through silences. Throughout the movie, Akhtar uses sequences of silence to capture compelling bonds between friends which fall apart. For instance, sequences of silence enhance the underwater scene. During this unforgettable scene, Imran creates bonds with friends on vacations through swimming in a sea. One appreciates the sequences of silence which capture the relationships between a pair of friends with the lifelong love for adventures. Silence is a tricky technique to use in most Bollywood movies. As Aamir Khan’s “Taare Zameen Par” suggested, silences enhance movies about disabilities. Nevertheless, it works extremely well in this movie. Through an exceptional screenplay, Akhtar captures hardships faced by friends whose doomed relationships come with a crushing price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Hrithik Roshan gives one of his best career performances as Arjun. Roshan achieved appreciation for playing romantic heroes in classic Bollywood movies. With “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”, however, Roshan took upon his most emotional role. It isn’t easy to play a businessman seeking to reconnect among friends on a vacation but he succeeds. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him in the past: intense, charismatic and riveting in his most meaningful role. With mesmerizing expressions, he captures the angst, bravery and adventurous spirit of a man embarking on vacations. It’s a brilliant performance by one of the most commemorated actors that is working in India today.
While the movie is mainly a bold showcase for Hrithik Roshan, the supporting cast is also amazing and worthy of appreciation. Farhan Akhtar is fantastic, capturing the charismatic nature of an Indian poet on an adventure. Abhay Deol is amazing, bringing charisma to a man in an unhappy marriage with a painful price to pay. Lastly, Katrina Kaif merits appreciation. As a woman with love for adventure, she is unforgettable.
Finally, “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” would earn recognition of everyone for capturing friendships in India. Unlike most coming of age Bollywood movies, it tackles powerful themes everyone would relate to. It tackles bold themes including ambition, friendship and mental health which would absolutely resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be familiar with Indian culture to enjoy it. Therefore, “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” is one of those rare Bollywood movies which everyone would adore.
Fans of Hrithik Roshan will absolutely enjoy “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” and so would audiences seeking bold entertainment. A brilliant Bollywood drama, it celebrates an actor with charisma in India.
Nearly 15 years following the release of a groundbreaking Bollywood movie about a pair of friends embarking on adventures in Spain, it’s a sparkling reminder of an actor that has managed to gain a huge following through his abilities to portray compelling characters in memorable movies that have never lost their endless abilities to definitely entertain.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 